benton



C. H. BENTON.

PANTALOON STRETGHER.

(No Model.)

Patented Nov. 2, 1886. Z/I- WIT/VESSES.

` UNITED l 4STATES PATENT v OFFICE.

CHARLES H, BENTON, oE CLEVELAND, CHIC, ASSIGNCE To CTIS B. BENTON,

` CE SAME PLACE.

PANTALooNs.-STRETC`HER. y

SPECIFICATION forming part of Lettere. Patent No. 352,106, area Novem-ber 2, 188e.

State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stretehers for Pantaloons; `and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled` in the art to which it pertains .to make and use the same. y

My invention relates to stretchers for pantaloons in which a footplate for depressing the lower clamp and stretching the'garment and a retaining-pawl for holding the garment taut are employed, the object being to provide' a device that is more effective in stretching the pantaloons and is more quickly and conveniently operated than the devices heretofore in use for such purposes.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a side elevation of a pantaloons-stretcher embodying Vmy invention. Fig. 2. is a bottom plan of the top clamp. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan of the lower clamp. Fig. 4 is a view in perspective showing the manner of operating thel stretcher. inafter described.

Clamps A and B are mountedon the bar C, the former for clamping the pantaloons at or 4near the waistband, and the latter for clamping the pantaloons near the bottom thereof. These clamps are of similar construction, and are hinged together at one end, and are pressed together at the other end by means of thumbscrews b. rIhe clamp A is attachedto the bar C by means of the thimble a, or other suitable device, so that the clamp may be removed from the bar for convenience in packing. The bottom clamp, B, is mounted on the bar C, the latter passing loosely thro ugh a guide-block, D, that is secured to this clamp. The bar C may be made in two or more pieces joined bybands c. The lower portion of the bar C has attached a ratchet-plate, c', and the lower clamp has connected therewith a springpawl, d,-for engaging the teeth of the ratchetbar and holding the clamp D depressed. A foot-plate, d', is provided for depressing the lower clamp, the operator throwing more or less of his weight thereon as may be needed to stretch the pants.

In operating'the device the pantaloons are folded lengthwise and the upperpart secured inthe clamp A. The legs, near the bottom,

Figs. 5 and 6 are details here- Application filed January 16, 1886. Serial N o. 188,751. (No model.)

in like manner are secured to the clamp B. The stretcher is held upright, with the lower end of the bar C resting on the floor. The operator places his foot on the foot-plate and depresses the lower clamp to Stretch the garment. ratchet, holds the clamp depressed.

The stretching of the pantaloons takes out the bagging at the knees, so that they may be worn a long time and still have a neat and worn occasionally, they Should be left in the stretcher.. i p For pantaloons that are being worn daily,

they should be placed in the stretcher overnight. Thereisno great strain required, not

enough to injure the garment in the least.

' Bagging at the knees is caused partlyV by the cloth stretching at this part and partly by the shrinking-or fulling up ofthe cloth on ,thel opposite side of the pantaloons-leg. `The stretching reverses the order, strainingthe rear portion and giving the front portion of the-garment an opportunity to 4shrink or full up, so that when the pantaloo'ns come-out of The dog, engaging the notches of the 6o -new appearance. AWhen pantaloons areonly the stretcher they are substantially in the form 8o secured rigidly to the bar at one end and the other mounted loosely thereon at the other end, pawl-and-ratchet mechanism for adjusting and holding the loose clamps on the bar,

and a foot-rest on said clamp to depress it in Ico stretching the trousers, substantially as set forth. A

AIn testimony whereof I sign this Specification, in the presence of two witnesses, this 5th day of January, 1886.

WVitnesses: CHARLES H. BENTON.

CHAs. H. DCRER, l, A. E. LYNCH. 

